Best Snowboard Jackets for Women

Some girls live for sweater weather, others for shorts and sun, but we… we live for snow and slopes, and it’s almost our time to shine! Winter is on its way to the northern hemisphere, and we’re here to welcome it with new gear. Snowboard jackets for women have come such a long way in the past few years. I recently found my first ski jacket buried in my parents’ attic, and I’m not sure how I ever managed to move (or even go out in public) while wearing it. Not cute. Not functional. 

Now fast-forward many years, and I own several incredibly nice board jackets along with one that might just be the perfect fit. Because I love my fellow gals, I thought I would share a few of my favorite snowboard jackets for women (yes, specifically for us!) that I have loved and continue to love when I’m ready to shred.

A Quick Look at the Best Snowboard Jackets for Women

Best Overall Snowboard Jacket for Women: Burton Women’s Pillowline GORE-TEX 2L Insulated Jacket

Best Jacket on a Budget: Burton Prowess 2.0 2L Jacket

Best for the Backcountry: 686 GORE-TEX Skyline Thermagraph Jacket

Best for Park Riding: Black Diamond Recon Stretch Ski Shell Jacket

Best for Extreme Cold: 686 Smarty® 3-in-1 Spellbound Jacket

How to Choose a Snowboard Jacket

Snowboard jackets, like every other piece of clothing, are never one-size-fits-all. But they have evolved into styles and shapes to fit our shapes and styles of riding. Before we jump into my top jacket choices, let’s talk about what goes into a good jacket and what to look for when finding your ideal snowboard jacket:

Warmth and Insulation:

Many people assume that because you’re out in the snow, you will be cold. But with the right gear, a day on the mountain can be a pretty comfortable experience. A good snowboard jacket keeps your core warm while still allowing movement. They are insulated with either down or synthetic fill, and both have their perks. Down is the more traditional option and is known for its incredible warmth. However, if it gets wet, the down gets cold. Synthetic insulation, on the other hand, outperforms down in damp conditions. When you purchase a jacket, pay attention to the type of insulation and its rating. Use the following down insulation ratings to find a jacket that suits the climate you’re riding in:

• 550-650 g/m² is great for mild weather or active riding
• 700-800 g/m² offers solid warmth for most riding conditions and is great for an all-around jacket
• 850-900 g/m²+ will take you through the coldest conditions.

Synthetic insulation ratings are much different, so make sure you know which type of insulation you’re looking at.

• 40-80 g/m² of synthetic insulation is suitable for cool conditions or as a light layer.  
• 80-120 g/m² is a great mid-range weight that keeps you warm without getting overheated in most snowy scenarios. 
• 120 g/m²+ is highly insulated and very warm for the coldest of days.

Weather Protection and Breathability

With all that heat comes the need for breathability. Snowboarding is an active sport, so your body will naturally heat up as you exercise. You want your jacket to keep some heat in and let other heat out, keeping your body at a comfortable temperature. As I reviewed each of these jackets, I wanted to make sure they could breathe. 

It’s almost a catch-22, though, because as much as you want a bit of heat transfer, you also want protection from the elements. This is where weather protection and waterproofing come in. Board jackets come in varying degrees of waterproofing. Some are water-resistant (usually described as 14,000mm or below), and others are waterproof (15,000mm and above).

Fit and Comfort

Your snowboard jacket should match the way you ride. If you’re an off-the-lift, down-the-slope kind of rider, a slim or regular-fitted jacket will be comfortable. If you’re a terrain park junkie, you need a lot more movement from your jacket, so you might want to look into a more relaxed fit or a regular one that offers an articulated fit. For backcountry riders and those with a really active riding style, an uninsulated shell with a relaxed fit offers more versatility for adding or removing layers as your activity changes. 

Each of these contributing factors will vary between riders. When I’m in the market for a new jacket, I like to keep in mind where I’ll be riding, how I’ll be riding, and for how long. I’m also a sucker for the little details that go into board jackets, so I’ll share some of my favorite additions that really help put these jackets at the top of my list.

My Top Picks

Best Overall Snowboard Jacket for Women: Burton Women’s Pillowline GORE-TEX 2L Insulated Jacket

Choosing the best overall board jacket was so much harder than I thought it would be. I narrowed it down pretty quickly, but went back and forth between Burton’s Pillowline and 686’s Willow Jackets. You really can’t go wrong with either. But after comparing all the little details, Burton got the win on this one. 

The Pillowline is an all-around great jacket that transfers between easy runs and steeper slopes with ease. It is made with GORE-TEX fabric, which ensures your ride will be dry and comfortable. It is highly waterproof and breathable at the same time, so you can let sweat go and keep the snow out. 

It has 80 g/m² of synthetic insulation, which is the sweet spot for a snowboard jacket, in my opinion. It’s warm enough that you can stay comfortable on the slopes, but don’t walk into the lodge looking like you came out of a sauna. The insulation was the winning point for this jacket. Its competitor from 686 had 60 g/m² of insulation, which wasn’t quite enough for me. However, if you run warm, the Willow might work better for you. 

It has pockets for all your essentials, including a therma-pocket to keep your phone warm. The Pillowline also has zippered vents under the arms and a sherpa fleece-lined collar for comfort. My two favorite features are a helmet-compatible hood that adjusts in the front and back for a custom fit and the jacket’s lifetime warranty. Not often do brands offer a solid warranty on their gear, but Burton does, and while I haven’t had to use it for this jacket yet, it’s nice to know it’s there. 

Price: $279.95 at Tactics

Best Jacket on a Budget: Burton Prowess 2.0 2L Jacket

Burton has back-to-back wins for best women’s jacket and best budget option. I’ve skied in several brands over the years, but my current favorite jacket is a discontinued Burton, which I will wear until it has absolutely no life left. Along with its lifetime guarantee, the Prowess is a solid jacket for the money. 

The jacket starts with two layers of DRYRIDE polyester fabric sporting a PFAS-free water repellent treatment. This will give you a 10,000 mm waterproofing capability with a matching 10,000g breathability rating. Inside, you’ll find Burton’s Living Lining™ and sherpa fleece for added warmth. It has 60g of synthetic Thermacore Eco insulation, which makes the Prowess definitely one of the least insulated board jackets. If you run warm or board in more mild climates, the jacket is a great fit. If you’re boarding in colder climates, add an extra layer or two underneath for greater comfort. 

The Prowess offers many of the comforts found in higher-end jackets, including a jacket-to-pant interface, a helmet-compatible hood, and a therma-pocket for your phone. It misses some of my favorite features, like merino wool at the collar (maybe I breathe too much, but the sherpa fleece at this collar seems to collect water and ice), but it balances out comfort with the underarm zipper vents.

One of the best things about this jacket is the colorways. The best board jackets tend to be limited in colors, but this jacket is offered in 7 colorways on Burton’s website. I love to have options, so this was a big win for the Prowess.

Price: $179.97 at Burton

Best for the Backcountry: 686 GORE-TEX Skyline Thermagraph Jacket

This jacket ticks all the boxes for being a great backcountry jacket. It’s a two-layer jacket made with GORE-TEX recycled nylon and treated with a DWR finish for ultimate waterproofing, no matter where you ride. The waterproofing isn’t the only thing on point here. The Skyline is a highly breathable jacket, making it the perfect companion if you’re walking or hiking between rides.

It is lightly insulated with 686’s thermagraph insulation, which puts insulation right where you need it to stay warm. It’s considered a regular fit articulated jacket, so you can move with ease whether you’re hiking up or boarding down.

But my favorite thing about this jacket is the pockets. What girl doesn’t wish for better pockets on clothes (and more of them, at that)! The Skyline has 8 pockets! Yes, 8 beautifully functional pockets. That alone would sell me on it. So let’s talk about them. It has a chest pocket with a clip for your keys. My literal biggest fear while riding is losing my keys, so this clip keeps me sane. It has a heated pocket for your phone, hand pockets, waterproof pockets, and extras for your goggles (which is great for in between runs), and lip balm. 

Pockets aside, it has several adjustments from the hood to the hem to keep heat in or cool you off, including underarm zippered vents, a pant-connect system, and a helmet-compatible hood. The other two standout features I love on this jacket are the merino wool collar/mouth flap and the wrist gaiters, which you can turn into mittens. All in all, it’s a solid jacket for wherever your adventures take you.

Price: $449.95 at 686.

Best for Park Riding: Black Diamond Recon Stretch Ski Shell Jacket

If board jackets were yoga pants, these would be Lululemons. This jacket feels fine and has some serious stretch for all terrain. Most well-known for their climbing equipment, Black Diamond offers quality gear for anyone traversing the mountains, whether wet or dry, and this jacket is one of my favorites. Even outside of park riding, it’s the go-to for a comfortable day on the slopes. 

The Recon is made with Black Diamond’s BD.dry material that is both dry and breathable, which is perfect for the park, where you might work up a sweat or in the snow a bit more than other styles of riding (unless you land every trick, in which case, props to you, girl!). This jacket’s material is super unique among board jackets, because it has 4-way stretch. This is a game-changer. You’re no longer limited by stiff clothes. Instead, you can move wherever your board wants to take you. 

I typically prefer a relaxed fit jacket for park riding so that I can move with ease, but the stretch of this jacket negated that need. Even though it’s a regular fit, I still move more comfortably than I do in a relaxed hard shell. 

It has creature comforts like a removable powder skirt, underarm zippers, and an adjustable hood and cuffs to keep you cozy in all conditions. Complete with 6 pockets, it has room to secure anything you want to take with you.

Price: $315 at Backcountry.

Best for Extreme Cold: 686 Smarty® 3-in-1 Spellbound Jacket

Why is it so hard to find a warm snowboard jacket for women? I was looking for a jacket to take up North where the boarding was bound to be frigid. There were uninsulated shells everywhere, but few truly warm coats were to be had in my search. For a gender known to run cold, you’d think they would make warmer jackets. But no. After quite the digging, I ran to a favorite online retailer and found the Smarty Spellbound from 686.

I was skeptical at best in the beginning. I used to have a 3-in-1 board jacket, and I hated every minute in it. But that was over a decade ago, and 686 is a brand much better than one that shall remain nameless. This jacket earned its name. I was rather spellbound by it. My biggest gripe about 3-in-1s is that they literally just feel like an oversized puffy stuffed inside a tiny shell, but the Smarty Spellbound was not that way at all. It felt like a complete set all the way around.

This jacket was perfect for a cold northern ski trip where I boarded part of the day, and spent the other half inside warming up or walking around town. It was so nice to only have to pack one jacket for my entire trip. I took the hard shell off for more casual outings, and threw it back on to ride up the mountain. 

The technical details matched my experience in the jacket. The jacket is a happy medium between a regular and relaxed articulated fit with 160g of infiLoft Polyfill insulation in the body and sleeves (no cold arms here!). It’s rated at 20,000mm for waterproofing and 15,000gm of breathability, and with taped seams, you’ll be happy as a clam for whatever the weather throws at you.

The Smarty Spellbound also boasts an astounding 8 pockets, so you and all of your stuff will stay warm all day long. When you’re ready to seal out the storm, there are cinches and gaiters at all openings, and a helmet-compatible hood to keep your noggin (and the rest of you) safe and warm.

Price: $309.95

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re out shredding powder or soaking in a smooth ride, be ready to go with one of the best women’s ski jackets for the 2025-2026 season. For a one-and-done jacket, check out Burton’s Pillowline GORE-TEX 2L Insulated Jacket. If you want to ride without breaking the bank (or want to save some splurge for your board), try on the Burton Prowess 2.0 2L Jacket. Backcountry riders will enjoy the comfort and breathability of the GORE-TEX Skyline Thermagraph Jacket by 686, and terrain park gals will revel in the stretchy Black Diamond Recon Stretch Ski Shell Jacket. And for ski trips or the coldest of runs, the Smarty® 3-in-1 Spellbound Jacket from 686 will keep you comfortable on and off the mountain. Here’s to a great powder year! See you on the slopes!